I think I had one of the first of Ford's V10 offerings, a 1997 Ford E350 clubwagon van. I can say that was absolutely the best engine I ever had in a vehicle for my uses. Got a avg. solid 12mpg and lasted 265,000 miles before it got totaled in a wreck. Just gave it good regular maintence and nothing ever broke or had to be back to the dealer. Jeez here in phoenix az diesel fuel cost's 50 cents MORE per gallon than regular unleaded! Top that with a $6K optional sticker price and not so great mpg from the 6.4 it seems the diesel option is a wash..

Out of curiosity did Ford first put the V10 engine in the E350 vans?

 

Yes, V10's were first used in the E-series.

 

Just reviewing some past posts and noticed this paragraph of kmeche's. (I don't run a Diesel anymore, but I stay in touch with the industry through Landline Magazine.)

Lots of us remember the days of "pre-low sulfer" Diesel, then low sulfer Diesel, and now ultra-low. Each "improvement" seems to be accompanied by reduced performance and increased maintenance problems. Then, when the emissions modifications required to meet EPA demands and the increased costs & complexity of the systems are figured in, the Diesel advantages begin to pale. Then calculate the increasing cost of Diesel and the need for ever more additives (which themselves keep going up in price) needed to keep the system clean and the fuel flowing in cold weather and, for me, the Diesel gets to be as out-of-reach as it might have been thirty or forty years ago.

 

This is the most entertaining thread I have read in a long time. Lots of good points, arguments, opinions, emotions, etc....

I have a 2001 V10 that I bought recently and so far I love it. It has surprised me in many good ways. It is quiet, smooth, starts without a cough or a hick-up no matte r how cold. Does not require fuel additives and I can buy quality "clean" gas on any corner.

It is SC 4x4 Auto with 3.73's and had 88,000 miles on it. I bought it for about $5000-$6000 less than any comparable 2001 Ford diesel and I shopped long and hard too. For my use now days the 3.73's work well enough, though I can see why folks like the 4.10 or 4.33's. I use to drive about 30K+ miles per year with a pretty good load on. Today I only use the truck to carry my camper and probably won't drive more than 6000-7000 miles per year. When running empty from El Paso to Tucson with the cruise on 68mph and air off I got 16.9 mpg (hand calculated). I was hoping for 14.5 to 15 and could not have been happier. Out of curiosity I set the cruise on 78mph and ran through some traffic in Phoenix on my way to Prescott, did a little running around in town... that time I got 14.3mpg. That was more than expected too. I picked up a 10.6 Bigfoot camper and took the long way back to San Francisco via Death Valley, even with some head winds and several 5000 foot passes I averaged about 11.3 mpg.

I have had, since 1997, three Powerstrokes: a 1997 F350 Crew4x4 with 4.10's, a 2000 F250 SC 2wd with 3.73 and a 1999 SC 4x4 in that order. I only kept the 2wd a short time as I had to go back to 4wd and replaced it with a used 1999. I really liked all three of these trucks and never had any more trouble with them than a fuel pump on the 97 at 160,000 miles. I had the 97 for four years and ran 80-90% of the miles loaded. Always got good mileage. I had the 1999 about three years and had about 165,000 on it when I sold it a couple years ago.

Anyway the 7.3 was a great engine and back when I had these trucks diesel was still diesel. It ain't no more and it is expensive. So this time around I gave the V10 a try and I am glad I did. I don't mind the lack of smell nor the mess of diesel either and neither does my wife... that's a BIG +++

 

Yes this is very entertaining. I went from an 03 V10 to a 05 6.0. These trucks are basically the same with the exception of the engine and the trans, both autos though. They both have good and not as good points. I will say the 6.0 pulls better than my V10 did. The V10 is more car like in drivability, but the 6.0 has a little more grunt. I consistantly get 4mpg better than the V10 pulling, driving everyday, and Interstate. At 20,000 miles per year, the maintainance costs are about even. I can only guess that the 6.4 will increase in mileage once broke in, so should be close to the same as the 6.0. Drive both, take into account what it will be used for, and be happy you have a SD when you buy your choice.

 

Well I drove the 05 V-10 for 3 years. Pulled a 13K 5th wheel all over the country. Now have the same truck..08 6.4L..cost vs benefits i should have kept the V-10 or bought another brand diesel.

 

The 1997 model year vans were the first year to get the V10. In fact, for '97 the entire engine(except 7.3L diesel) offerings for the vans were replaced: 4.2L V-6 replaced the 4.9L I6, 4.6L V-8 replaced the 5.0L V-8, 5.4L replaced the 5.8L V-8, and the 6.8L V-10 replaced the 7.5L big-block V-8. I'm pretty sure the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel remained unchanged from '96-'97 model year vans. Horsepower & torque ratings for 1997 V10 engines were :265@4,250rpm & 410lb./ft.@2,650rpm. The 460(1996 ratings) it replaced : 245@4,000rpm & 400lb./ft.@2,200rpm.